Electrical regulating apparatus



MW 12, 1942 L.. K. HEDDING 2,282,471

' ELECTRICAL REGULATING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 6, 1939 TI'UJCSOLUCQ Y jm T- H3 Y fia vHIS ATTORNEY Patented May 12, 1942 STATE generateur.. nneULATmG'APPARA'rUs anni@ is. needing,

Union Switch n @i le, ra., assigner to The Company, Swissvale,

lia., a corporation of Peylvania Application @catcher 6, 219399 Semi No. 298,299

A ici. iisassi My invention relates to electrical regulating apparatus of the type employed to regulate the output of a rectifier which supplies energy to a direct current load from a source of alternating current. More particularly, my invention relates to electrical regulating apparatus for furnishing a constant unidirectional voltage from a rectifierregardless of variations in the voltage of the alternating. current source and also regardless of variations in the amount of current drawn by the load.

Regulating apparatus of the above described type heretofore proposed utilizes the direct cui rent drawn by the load to control the power output of the rectifier, and also provides a compensating control which aids or opposes the control established by the load current according as the voltage output of the rectifier is below or above the desired constant voltage. Usually, such control is established through the medium of a saturable reactor or a saturable transformer, in both of which cases the direct current output of the rectifier is caused to create a ux which controls the reluctance of a saturable core upon which are mounted alternating current windings, thereby eifecting control of the power output of the rectifier. I have found that when the direct current output of a rectifier is employed in the above manner to eect regulation of the rectifier, alternating current is caused to fiow in the output circuit of the rectifier by virtue of the presence of both alternating and unidirectional fluxes in the cores of such regulating devices due to mounting both alternating and direct current windings on such cores. Thus, for example,

is the provision in regulating apparatus of the type described, of novel and improved means whereby the load currentA delivered by a rectier ris utilized to control the power output of the rectifier.

Another object of my invention is the provision of novel and improved regulating apparatus of the type described whereby the direct current output of a rectifier is utilized to control the power output ofthe rectifier without causing any resultant alternating current components to be superimposed. upon the rectifier output.

A further object of my invention is the provision, in regulating apparatus of the type described, of novel and improved means for obtain- `ing regulation of the power 'output lof a rectier under low load conditions.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

iishall describe three forms of apparatus embodying my invention, and shall then point out the novel features thereof inclaims.

although alternating current of the fundamental frequency and its odd harmonics can be and has been eliminated or balanced out of the rectifier output by regulating apparatus of the type heretofore proposed, I havefound that a double frequency alternating current ripple usually is superimposed upon and flows in the output circuit of the rectifier. Under certain conditions, anyalternating current ripple in the rectifier output is very undesirable, and for that reason use of rectifiers as a source of unidirectional energy has been somewhat limited. I have also found that rectifier regulation under low load conditions is difficult to obtain by regulating apparatus now known to the art, and that usually a separate impedance energized in shunt with the rectifier mustbe employed to improve the regulation obtainable by the regulating apparatus now in use. v

, Accordingly, an object of my present invention In the accompanying drawing, Fig. l is a diagrammatic view showing a preferred form of apparatus embodying my invention. Figs. Zand Bare each diagrammatic views showing modified forms of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, each also embodying my invention.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views.

Referring rst to Fig. 1, the reference character T designates a transformer, the primary 5 of which is supplied with alternating current from a source which isnot shown on the drawing, and the secondary S of which transformer T is connected with the input terminals of a full wave rectifier R which in turn has its output terminals connected with a variable direct current load. A stand-by source of power, shown as a battery B, also is connected across the load.

The reference character A designates a regulating device comprising a' magnetizable core 'i having three parallel legs 8, 9 and lll, which are conected together at' each end to form an in-v tegral core structure. An alternating current winding, which comprises two coils Pl and P2 connected in parallel, is disposed on the two outer legs 8 and I0 of the core, one coil PI being disposed on legk 8 and the other coil P2 being disposed on leg l0. The coils PI and P2 are proportioned to have` an equal number of turns and are so arranged on core 'l that when energized, the two coils cooperate in circulating a flux through a magnetic circuit comprising both correspondingly is varied.

outer legs and the adjoining end portions of the core.

Regulating device A further comprises two control windings Cl and C2, both disposed on middle leg 9 of the core. When direct current energy is applied to one or both of the control windings, the unidirectional flux set up by such current threads core l through two parallel magnetic circuits, one circuit of which comprises the middle leg 9, outer leg 8 and the adjoining end portions of the core, and the other magnetic circuit comprises middle leg 9, outer leg I and the adjoining end portions of the core. It is readily apparent. therefore, that the unidirectional iiux set up by windings CI and C2 is effective to vary the reluctances of legs 8 and IIJ of the core and thereby, control the impedance of coils PI and P2, respectively.

As can be seen from an inspection of Fig. 1, the

alternating current winding of device A is interposed between the alternating current source and one terminal of primary 5 of transformer T. It follows, therefore, that by varying the impedance of the alternating current winding of device A, the power input t primary 5 of transformer T This variation of power input to transformer T will, of course, be

reiiected by a corresponding variation in the power output of rectifier R.

The iirst or load current control winding CI of device A is interposed between one output terminal of rectifier R and the load, and is, therefore, energized in accordance with vthe current drawn by the load. The second or battery current control winding C2 of device A is interposed in series with control Winding Cl between the stand-by source of power, battery B, and the load. Battery B preferably is selected to have a predetermined terminai Voltage substantially equal to the voltage at which it is desired to supply current to the load.

In normal operation, the current drawn by the load from rectifier R traverses winding CI to set up a unidirectional flux in core 'l of device A, which flux establishes a given condition of reluctance for core 'l which determines the impedance of coils Pl and P2 and correspondingly determines the power input to rectifier R. The parts of device A preferably are so proportioned that substantially the entire current taken by the load is supplied from rectifier R so that little if any current is supplied by battery B to the load.

In the event load conditions vary so that an l increased current is drawn by the load, thereby increasing the current through the control winding CI, the .voltage across the output terminals of rectifier R will tend to drop. However, due to the increased current in winding CI, the impedance of the alternating current winding of device A is reduced, and consequently the voltage applied to primary 5 of transformer T is increased. This results in a higher induced voltage in secondary 6 of transformer T and correspondingly increases the output voltage of rectifier R. In addition, if the voltage delivered by the rectifier drops below the voltage of battery B, current then willv flow from the battery to the load through both compensating windings CI and C2, and this current will be in such direction as to assist the current supplied to the load from rectifier R through winding CI in reducing the impedance of the alternating current winding of device A. As the result of. the cooperation ofv control winding C2 with control winding C',

the input voltage of transformer T is regulated by device A until the output voltage of rectifier R equals the battery voltage. On the other hand, if the output voltage of rectifier R becomes greater than the voltage of battery B, current then will flow from rectifier R to battery B through winding C2 in such direction as to op pose or neutralize part 'of the saturating effect of the load current in winding Cl, thereby tending to increase the impedance of the alternating current winding of device A and so reduce the voltage delivered to transformer T. In this latter case, the voltage applied to transformer T output of rectifier R equals the battery voltage.

It follows that by properly proportioning the' number of turns in the windings of the regulating device A, the apparatus may be made to function in such manner that the voltage delivered by rectifier R will at all times be equal to the voltage of battery B. In the event of failure of the alternating current source, battery B will function as a reserve source of current for the load at the same voltage as that which is supplied by the rectier when the alternating current source is available.

The above described control of the output of rectifier R is effected by device A without causing any alternating current to iiow in the output circuit of rectifier R, this being due to the fact that the two coils PI and P2 of the alternating winding of device A are connected in parallel and have an equal number of turns so that as a result alternating flux will at no time be present in the middle leg of the core, and consequently no alternating current will be induced in control windings Cl and C2 by the alternating flux supplied to the core by coils PI and P2.

It follows that withthe coils PI -andPZ of device A connected in parallel, the device A is effective to cause the load to be supplied with unidirectional current substantially free from ripples. In the case of a non-inductive load supplied with current from a rectifier which has associated therewith the usual regulating reactor and a battery connected to the load through a winding on the reactor, the rectifier normally applies to the load a pulsating unidirectional electromotive force varying in magnitude from a maximum to a minimum of substantially zero twice in each cycle of the alternating voltage applied to the rectifier. A portion of this pulsating unidirectional electromotive force results from the rectifier output being comprised of 'alternate humps and valleys, and another portion results from an alternating current component induced in the direct current control windings of the reactor as a result of an unbalanced distribution of alternating current iiux in the reactor. With the device A constructed as described heretofore, that is, with the coils PI and P2 connected in multiple and battery B connected across the load through control windings Cl and C2, the multiple connection of the two coils PI and P2 functions not only to avoid the induction of alternating current components in the load circuit by maintaining a balanced distribution of flux in the reactor, but also to reduce the impedance of the control windings CI and C2 and during the intervals that the valleys occur in the unidirectional electromotive force supplied by the rectifier, battery B is enabled to supply current to the load* through the control windings. The rectifier accordingly supplies the load with unidirectional current of pulsating character free load conditions is effected by the 'apparatus of.

Flg. 1 due to the fact that the alternating current winding of device A is interposed between the alternating current source and the primary of the transformer, and as a result both the current drawn by thel rectifier R and the current necessary to supply the transformer losses ilow through the coils Pi and P2. It follows that by properly proportioning the parts of device A, the charging current i. e., the current required to supply transformer losses, is made comparable in magnitude to the component of load current when a very light load is connected across the output terminals of rectifier R. This results in a greater alternating flux being supplied to the core of device A under low load cond'itions'than if coils Pi and P2 were connected in series with the secondary winding Bof transformer T, thereby improving the impedance characteristics of device A and providing a greater measure of regulation under low load conditions.

The apparatus shown in Fig. 2 is substantially similar to that shown in Fig. l, except that in Fig. 2 the alternatingV current winding of device A is interposed between the secondary winding 6 of transformer T and one input terminal of rectifier R. It is believed that the operation of the apparatus of Fig. 2 will be readily apparent from the foregoing description of the lapparatus of Fig. ll together with an inspection of Fig. 2

' without further detailed explanation. However,

since the impedance characteristics of device A are modified in' Fig. 2 due to the fact that the charging current or' transformer T is not utilized,y

it might be necessary to connect a separate impedance (not shown) across the input terminals of rectifier R. of Fig. 2 in order to enable the apparatus of Fig. 2 to provide regulation under low load conditions equivalent to the regulation provided by the apparatus of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 discloses another modification of the' apparatus of Fig. i, in which modication a regulating device Ai is employed. Device Ai is similar to regulating device A previously described, except that the arrangement of the coils Pi and P2 on the outer legs of the core is such that the alternating nuxes set up by the two coils now thread the middle leg 9 of the core. That is to say, the two coils Pi and P2 of device 'Ai when supplied with alternating current set up alternating fluxes in legs 8 and it, respectively, having similar instantaneous directions, and as a result the ilux set up by each coil circulates through a closed magnetic path which includes its associated outer leg and the middle leg of the core?. ln addition, the load current control winding of device Ai comprises two coils Cia and Clb, one disposed on each outer leg of the `core, connected in series with each other and in series with the load across the output terminals of rectifier R. The coils Cla and Cib are proportioned to have a like number of turns, and are connected in seriesin such manner that any electromotive forces induced in the two coils by alternating flux threading the associated legs of the core in the same instantaneous direction -wiil oppose each other. The battery current control winding of device Al also comprises two coils 02a and C217, one disposed on each outer leg of the core, connected in series with each other and in series with battery B across the output terminals of rectifier R.. The coils C2a and C2b are proportioned tochave an equal number of turns, and are connected in series in such manner-that alternating ux threading the asso` ciated legs of the core in the same 'directions'will induce opposing electromotive forces in coils 02a and C21. `This arrangement of the coils Cia, Clb, C2a and 02h on legs 8 and I0 of the core of device AI is such that when supplied with direct current,'the coils set up a unidirectional ux which circulates through both outer legs but does not circulate through the middle leg of the core.

In the particular embodiment of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3, the coils Pi and P2 of the alter-v nating current winding of device AI are interposed between secondary 6 of transformer T and one input terminal of rectifier R, and since the ing fluxes having the samev direction in the two outer legs of the core, equal and opposing electromotive forces will be induced in coils Cia and Clb by such alternating flux, which electromotive forces cancel each other so that as a result no alternating current flows in the output circuit of rectifier R. It is also obvious that the construction and arrangement of coils C2a and 02h on core 'l of device AI is such that equal opposing electromotive forces are induced in such coils by the alternating uxes in core l so that v no alternating current flows in the circuit connected across battery B.

It is obvious that the two coils Pi and P2 of the alternating current winding of device Ai of Fig. 3 can be connected in circuit with the primary of transformer' T, thereby utilizing the charging current of transformer T to provide a regulating device having improved impedance characteristics under low load conditions similar to those possessed by device A of Fig. l.

Although I have herein shown and described only three forms of regulating apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of m'y invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. The combination with a source of alternating current, a direct current load, a rectifier interposed between said alternating current source and-said load, and a battery connected across said load,` of 'a three-legged magnetizable core, an alternating current winding comprising two coils connected in parallel and having like` number of turns, said alternating current winding being interposed between said source and said rectifier and said two coils being disposed one on each outer leg of said core in such manner that each coil sends flux in opposition to the of the core, a rst control winding and a second control winding each of which comprises two coils connected in series and having equal number of turns, said rst control winding being interposed between said rectifier and said load and said second winding being interposed between said battery and said load, one coil of each of said control windings being disposed on one of the outer legs and the other coil of each of said control windings being disposed on the other outer leg of said core in such manner that the resultant of the fluxes-set up by said control windings circulates in a magnetic vcircuit which includes both outer legs of said core in series, whereby the output voltage of said rectifier is maintained substantially constant by current iiowing inl saidcontrol windings and said load is supplied with substantially ripple-free unidirectional current. 3

2. The combination with a source of alternating current, a direct current load, a rectifier interposed between said alternating current source and said load, and a battery connected across said load, of a three-legged magnetizable core, an alternating current winding comprising two coils connected in parallel and having like number of turns, said alternatingcurrent winding being interposed between said source and said rectier and said two coils being disposed one on each outer leg of said lcore in such manner that each coil sends flux in opposition to the other in the outer legs ofthe core but both coils send iiux in agreement in the middle leg of the core, a iirst control winding and a second control winding each of which comprises two coils connected in series and having equal number of turns, said first control winding being interposed between said rectifier and said load and said second control winding being interposed between said battery and said load, one coil of each of said control windings being disposed on one of the outer legs and the other coil of each of said control windings being disposed on the other outer leg of said core in such manner that the resultant of the iiu-xes set up by said control windings circulates in a magnetic circuit which includes both outer legs of said core in series, the relation between the polarity of said battery and the direction of said second control winding beingsuch that the second control winding opposes or aids the saturating effect of said rst control winding rerectifier exceeds or is less than the voltage ot said battery, whereby the output voltage of said rectifier is maintained substantially constant by current owing in said control windings and said load is supplied with substantially ripplefree unidirectional current. d

3. The combination with a source of alternating current, a, direct current load, a rectifier interposed between said alternating current source and said load, and a battery connected across said load, of a three-legged magnetizable core, an alternating current winding comprising two coils connected in parallel and having like number of turns, said alternating current winding being interposed between said source and said rectifier, one coil of said winding being disposed on a rst leg of said core and the other coil of said winding being disspectively according as the output voltage of said posed on a second leg of said core, the iluxes established by said two coils in their respective legs being equal, a first control winding and a second control winding each of which comprises two coils connected in series and having equal number of turns, said first control winding being interposed between said rectifier and said load and said second control winding being interposed between said battery and said load, one coil of each of said control windings being disposed on said iirst leg and the other coil of each of said control windings being disposed on said second leg, the flux established by one coil of said first control winding at a given instant aiding the ilux established by one coil of said alternating current winding associated therewith on said first leg, the iiux .established by the other coil of said iirst control winding'at said given instant opposing the flux established by the other coil of said alternating current winding associated therewith on said second leg, the relation between the polarity of said battery and the direction of said second control winding being such that the second control winding opposes or aids the'saturating eifect of said first control winding respectively according as the output voltage of said rectier exceeds or is less than the voltage of said battery, whereby the output voltage of said rectier is maintained substantially constant by current flowing in said control windings and said load is supplied with substantially ripples free unidirectional current.

LINNIE K. HEDDING. 

